MANILA, Philippines - Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday said Commission on Audit chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan should also be held liable for her admission in using funds sourced from the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
In an ambush interview after his bail hearing at Sandiganbayan's 5th Division, Estrada said Tan should have audited the expenditures from the DAP funds.
"Sa aking pananaw, dapat managot din si Chair Grace Pulido-Tan ng COA because the DAP has been in existence since 2011 or 2012. Dapat in-audit na rin ng COA yung DAP," Estrada said.
The detained senator said that during a hearing a Senate budget hearing, Tan admitted that COA received DAP funds and the body used it purchase vehicles.
"Tinanong ko sa kanya kung anong ginamit niya dun sa perang gamit sa DAP. Sinabi niya pinambili daw ng mga kotse. Eh that is not pump-priming the economy. Hindi 'yan ang purpose ng DAP," Estrada said.
Estrada said he came to know of the existence of DAP funds when he delivered a privilege speech on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in September last year, before the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder and graft cases against him in connection with the pork barrel scam.
"When I delivered my first privileged speech regarding the PDAF, I wondered where they got the. funds that they distributed after the conviction of Chief Justice (Renato) Corona.
"I never knew where the funds came from. It was not included in the GAA (General Appropriations Act) . So saan kinuha yung pera? Si (Budget). Sec. (Butch)Abad was man enough to admit that it came from the DAP. I think not even a single senator knew about the existence of DAP," he said.